Rounded upper back

Treatment for Kyphosis

Kyphosis is treated with a combination of observation, physical therapy, bracing, medication in selected cases, and surgery for more severe or progressive deformity. The choice of treatment depends on the cause of the spinal curvature, the degree of structural change, the…

What is Kyphosis

Kyphosis is a spinal condition in which the upper back develops an abnormally increased forward curve. In a healthy spine, the thoracic region naturally has a gentle backward curve, but in kyphosis that curve becomes exaggerated because the vertebrae, intervertebral discs,…

Symptoms of Kyphosis

The symptoms of kyphosis are usually centered on an abnormal forward rounding of the upper spine, but the condition can also produce pain, stiffness, fatigue, postural imbalance, and, in more advanced cases, breathing difficulty or neurologic symptoms. These effects arise because…

Prevention of Kyphosis

Kyphosis is an outward curvature of the thoracic spine that becomes clinically important when the curve is excessive, rigid, progressive, or associated with pain, posture change, breathing limitation, or neurologic compromise. Whether it can be prevented depends on the cause. Some…

FAQ about Kyphosis

This FAQ article explains kyphosis in clear, practical terms. It covers what kyphosis is, why it develops, how it is diagnosed, what treatments are available, and what people can expect over time. It also addresses common questions about prevention, risk factors,…

Causes of Kyphosis

What causes kyphosis? Kyphosis develops when the normal outward curve of the upper spine becomes exaggerated because the vertebrae, discs, ligaments, muscles, or surrounding skeletal structures no longer maintain balanced alignment. In some people this happens as a result of abnormal…

Diagnosis of Kyphosis

Kyphosis is usually identified through a combination of visual assessment, physical examination, and imaging studies that measure the shape of the spine. The condition refers to an excessive forward curvature of the thoracic spine, although some degree of kyphotic curve is…